Removable Storage Tools and Settings

In this article

Removable Storage Tools and Settings

In this section

Removable Storage Tools

Removable Storage Registry Entries

Removable Storage Group Policy Settings

Removable Storage WMI Classes

Network Ports Used by Removable Storage

Related Information

The data storage and management features in the Windows Server 2003 operating system provide you with various ways to manage and store data. With Removable Storage, a primary component of this feature set, you can track your removable storage media (tapes and optical disks) and manage the hardware libraries, such as changers and jukeboxes, which contain them.

With Removable Storage, you can:

Label, catalog, and track media.

Control library drives, slots, and doors.

Perform drive-cleaning operations.

Removable Storage works together with your data-management applications such as Backup. You use data-management applications to manage the actual data stored on the media. Removable Storage makes it possible for multiple applications to share the same storage media resources, which can reduce your costs. It also provides a common interface for managing those resources, so that you can manage your storage media more efficiently.

Removable Storage organizes all the media in your libraries into different media pools. A media pool is a logical collection of removable media that have the same management policies. Media pools are used by applications to control access to specific tapes or discs within libraries that are managed by Removable Storage. Removable Storage also moves media between media pools in order to provide the amount of data storage that your applications require. To find more information about media pools, see “How Removable Storage Works" in “How Removable Storage Works.”

You cannot use Removable Storage to manage volumes, such as for media siding or striping. Also, you cannot use Removable Storage to manage files, such as for data backup or disk-extender operations. These services are performed by data-management applications such as Backup or Remote Storage. Remote Storage is not available on computers running Windows XP Professional; Windows Server 2003, Web Edition; or Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition.

You must run all your data-management applications on the same computer that connects to your library. Removable Storage does not support multiple data-management applications running on different computers that are connected to the same library.

Removable Storage is configured to start automatically when you start your computer. It is possible to change the service so that you can start it manually, but this is highly discouraged. Disabling the service causes several applications that are included in Windows Server 2003 (such as Backup and Remote Storage) to become inoperative.

Removable Storage Tools

The following tool is associated with Removable Storage.

Removable Storage Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Snap-in

Category

Part of Windows Server 2003.

Version compatibility

Also part of Windows XP and can be used to perform administrative tasks on locally attached storage devices.

The Removable Storage MMC snap-in is an administrative interface to Removable Storage. Administrators can use the snap-in to insert and eject media, perform inventories, mount and dismount media, clean drives and check status information. Removable Storage objects can be physical objects (such as libraries, drives, and media) or logical groups of media (called media pools).

Note

If only one removable storage device is being utilized, it is unlikely that you will ever be required to use the snap-in because each removable storage client application can take care of routine tasks by itself. For example, a simple backup application should not require a user to go to the snap-in to place media in a drive. In general, you will only need to use the snap-in if a system is running more than one removable storage client application (for example, Backup and a document management system), or if the system has a sophisticated robotic library that requires administrative management.

Removable Storage Registry Entries

The following registry entries are associated with Removable Storage.

The information provided here is a reference for use in troubleshooting or verifying that the required settings are applied. It is recommended that you do not directly edit the registry unless there is no other alternative. Modifications to the registry are not validated by the registry editor or by Windows before they are applied, and as a result, incorrect values can be stored. This can result in unrecoverable errors in the system. When possible, use Group Policy or other Windows tools, such as Microsoft Management Console (MMC), to accomplish tasks rather than editing the registry directly. If you must edit the registry, use extreme caution.

AutoCfg

Registry path

Version

Data Type

This entry specifies whether the changer has been manually configured by an administrator.

Changer

Registry path

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NtmsSvc\Config\

Version

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

The Config key contains a subkey for each changer (for example, Changer0) and a subkey for each stand-alone drive. Each changer subkey contains an entry for each drive bay in the changer (for example, DriveBay0). For each drive bay entry that has the value “???”, replace that value with the device name of the drive in that bay, such as “Tape3”. Do not use an initial “\” or “.” (period) character“.”

Registry path

Version

Data Type

Description

Registry path

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\NTMS\OMID\Tape\*\

Version

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

Data Type

REG_SZ

This entry contains the description for the media label library (MLL). A media label library is defined as a dynamic-link library (DLL) that can interpret the format of a media label written by a Removable Storage application.

EventMessageFile

Registry path

Version

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

Data Type

REG_EXPAND_SZ

This entry stores the location of the file that contains event identifiers for the events generated by the source program, and text describing each event. Typically, event identifiers are included in the dynamic-link library (DLL) or executable file for the source program.

DriveList

Registry path

Version

Data Type

This entry lists the stand-alone drives that are connected to the computer.

Removable Storage Group Policy Settings

The following table lists and describes the Group Policy settings that are associated with Removable Storage. These settings permit or prohibit the use of the Removable Storage MMC snap-in.

Group Policy Settings Associated with Removable Storage Management

Group Policy Setting

Description

Not Configured

If this policy is not configured, the setting of the Restrict users to the explicitly permitted list of snap-ins policy determines whether this snap-in is permitted or prohibited.

Enabled

The snap-in is permitted.

Disabled

The snap-in is prohibited.

Note

The path to Removable Storage Management is User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Microsoft Management Console\Restricted/Permitted snap-ins. (Restricted/Permitted snap-ins is the full name for the folder.)

To find more information about Removable Storage Group Policy settings, see “Group Policy Settings Reference” in the Tools and Settings Collection.

Removable Storage WMI Classes

There are no WMI Classes associated with Removable Storage.

Network Ports Used by Removable Storage

Removable Storage does not utilize any network ports.

Related Information

The following resources contain additional information that is relevant to this section.